Dirk Gently

This series is amazingly bizarre, Amazingly Funny and leaves you guessing where the story is going often leading you down a rabbit hole that only concludes when you've looked at the most improbable solution to the problem possible. Dirk Gently is a detective who solves cases Holistically believing every thing is interconnected in the universe and that by pursuing every solution for one case he will often solve other cases, while this often appears to his partner McDuff like he is doing nothing on one he has a way of one thing from one case coming back and helping him work the other cases. His cases aren't always simple cases with obvious clues though as they often result in super science and solutions that push improbability to the limits.

The two lead characters personalities play off each other well and the actors do a good job establishing these traits.

This is "based on Douglas Adams' book" well, the names are the same. Not a huge problem though as I think Adams would be happy with this programme.

Dirk Gently runs a "holistic detective agency" and believes in the inter-connectivity of events. He is accompanied in his quests by Richard MacDuff. So yeah, it's Holmes and Watson to some extent.

What I like about these programmes is that they don't dwell too long on analysing the crimes or digging into the characters' backgrounds. The writers concentrate more on providing a slightly off-beat story. While features of Dirk Gently (and to some extent MacDuff) are constants through all 3 programmes, there is no attempt to shove them "in yer face". There is also a degree of ambiguity about the setting although I guess it is around the time it was produced. I sometimes think producers place too much time on getting the background right while, quite frankly, I don't care.

Stephen Mangan is a tad irritating in the first programme with his Holmesian deliveries but this begins to work the longer you watch. He carries the lead role well. And Darren Boyd has never impressed me in the past but he works well as the sidekick. I like the portrayal of the Janice/secretary character. It is quite one dimensional (not a bad thing) and isn't over used.

The producers have struck a balance with the actors, story and setting. I am disappointed that this looks like the only time we will see this combination as I enjoyed all three episodes.

Stephen Mangan is a riot as Dirk Gently, who runs a "holistic detective agency." Gently believes in the interconnectedness of all things and that the universe will solve his cases. The universe might, but they won't pay his bills or clean his office. Darren Boyd is sort of his partner, MacDuff, and Gently drives him nuts.

This is a wildly funny show, with one client paying Gently to find out who is stalking him, which turns out to be Gently himself, in another case he works on finding a cat and uses time travel, that sort of thing.

Mangan is intense and outrageous as Gently, with wild hair and a declamatory voice. Everyone around him looks fairly discouraged. Unfortunately this series only lasted one season, but I notice there's a TV movie made in 2015. Maybe it will be back.

Holistic detective Dirk Gently (Stephen Mangan) solves his cases by deciphering the interconnectivity of everything no matter how incredible. His cases range from a missing dog to a murder linked to the Pentagon. Richard MacDuff invests into his agency despite his girlfriend Susan Harmison's objections.

Stephen Mangan is great and I love him in Episodes. MacDuff is a bit of a dud. His character doesn't have much charm. I'd rather have more Susan Harmison. She's a great foil to the Dirk character. This is based on Douglas Adams work and it has his irreverent touch. The first episode has a hilarious take on Schrödinger's cat. I need more of that and a better second to Dirk. Otherwise, this is pretty fun with a wacky character.

I have multiple copies of each Dirk Gently book, including soft covers, hard covers, first editions, and signed copies. This show kept Dirk pretty darn close to the true spirit of the originals. The stories are reminiscent of something Adams may have written in the early 2010's.

Mangan is the perfect casting for Dirk, and plays him naturally. MacDuff is a bit more bland than the novels, but is played well by Boyd.

It is a shame that there are so many people that don't appreciate how well done this show as, from the perfectly themed and timed musical cues, to the cinematography itself.

Any true DNA fan prefers this adaptation to the horrid, new atrocity playing on TV.